Compressor



May 10,1927. 1,628,096l C. S. WORTH COMPRES S OR Filed Dc. l, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 10, 1927.

C. S. WORTH COMPRES S OR Filed Dec. l, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jbl/9772???? M fj f ' with an air compressor, itis, of course, to'

y as a full disclosure of the construction and- Patented May 10, 1927.

CLEMENS S. WORTH, )F

PATENT OFFICE.'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 EDWARD G. BURGHARD.

COMPRESSOR;

Application led December 1, 1924. Serial No. 753,009.-

This invention relates generally to improvements in valve mechanisms, and while I show and desciibe its use 1n connection be understood that it need not necessari-ly be limited to this particular field -but may also be used in connection with engines, pumps, and the like, where applicable.

The particular novelty of this invention resides in the arrangement, construction and operation of the valve mechanism; the pri` mary object being to provide a duplex valve arrangement in connection with relatively high and low pressure chambers.

A further feature of my invention is a simple and compact construction whcih may be inserted and removed bodily from the cylinder head, simplifying assembly and removal for repairs.

\ In the double valve and `high and lower pressure chamberl arrangement the invention is further characterized, by a delayed opening of one of the valves at the beginning of the exhaust stroke of the piston and its advanced closing at the beginning of the suction stroke.

Further features of my invention, as well operation of the mechanism` are fully set forth in the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which( Iv submit for purposes of illustration,

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section taken through the center of a compressor to which my invention is applied;

Fig; 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 taken at right angles theretoas indicated by the nism in connection with which any valve' construction is used as ra compressor it is to be understood that this is primarily for the purpose of clearly showing and describalso comprises the crank case'of the compressor, upon Whicha cylinder 1l is secured, in any suitable manner. A piston 12, preferably of the type shown and described in my copending ap lication,'filed 65 December l, 1924, Serial BPO. 753,012, ,is mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder 11; and this is operatively connected to a crank shaft 13 through the medium of the usual connecting rod 14. Shaft 13 is 70 revolubly journalled in bearings 15, formed in the walls of the base 10, and may also beadditionally supportedy in bearings 16 therein. The usual ily wheel 17 is provided on the crank shaft 13 on its end 75 opposite to that on which a worm wheel 18 is rigidly mounted.

The compressor may be driven by any suitable motive power and through any medium, but I prefer to drive it through 80 a worm gear 19 keyed upon a drive shaft 20 and 'meshing with the lworm wheel 118. This provides a muchmore quiet and efficient driving mechanism than the usual s ur gear: connection. The shaft 20 is revolu ly 85 journalled in ball bearings 21, within the base 10, and also extends through a suitable packing gland 22 therein.

My improved valve mechanism is mounted within the top of the cylinder 11 and 90I isvso arranged and constructed that it may be removed bodily therefrom and separately assembled fand inserted therein. This con duces greatly to economy of manufacture and maintenance.

`This valve mechanism is constructed as follows:

A sleeve 25h-which I will hereinafter term the intake valve seat sleevefits closely within an annular recess 24 in the top of 100 the cylinder ll and rests upon an annular shoulder 25 with its top endflush with the f top end 26 of the cylinder walls. This sleeve is open at both ends and is in the form of a straight walled cylinder, except that it 105 has an internal extension on its bottom forming an inverted conical valve seat 27 and an upper annular shoulder 28. .an

intake aperture' 29` is provided in the cylinder wall` into 'which' an intake pipe 30 may be screw threadedly connected, and this aperture is in alignment with an an nular, peripheral recess 31 in the sleeve 23. This is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Spaced apertures 32 extend through the wall of the sleeve at the back of the recess 31 leaving connecting ribs 35 therearound at spaced intervals.

. A sleeve bushing 35 is mounted concentrically within the sleeve 23 and is supported by an integral annular flange 36 adjacent its top resting upon the top 26 of cylinder 11. An intake sleeve valve 37 surrounds the bushing 35 with-a comparatively close sliding iit and is spaced from the sleeve 23,. as shown, except for an annular flange 38 around its top having a sliding engagement within' the sleeve 23 and an annular extennion around its bottom upon which thereis a conical face 40 adapted to seat against the face 27. The intake valve 37 is normally held upwardly or seated by the action of an expansible helical spring 34, which is confined between the shoulder 28, of the sleeve 23, and the annular flange 38 on valve 37.

A. tubular guide bushing 41 is removably secured within the sleeve 35, preferably by screw threads, as shown, and this has a central guide sleeve 42 depending from its top 43, terminating somewhat short of the bottom of sleeve 35.

A'valve 44, of the poppet type, is mounted for vertical movement within the sleeve 35 by its stem 45 slidably engaging within the guide sleeve 42. This valve has a conical face 4G adapted to seat upon a c omplemen-` tary face 47 formed on the bottom of sleeve 35 on which it seats downwardly. Valve 44 is normally held seated by the action of an expansible helical -spring 44 confined between its top'face and top 43 of bushing 41.

The sleeve 35 extends a short distance above its annular flange 36 and this top end 48 provides an annular seat for a disk valve 49, also mounted for vertical movement by its stem 50 sliding in the guide sleeve 42. Valve 49 is held normally seated by an expansile helical spring 51, confined between its top face and the top of a housing cap 52, which is slightly stronger than the spring 44a. The cap 52 has an annular lange 53 surrounding its bottom, adapted to rest upon the flange 36; these members being removably held in place on the top 26 of cylinder l1 by means of screws 54. An exhaust aperturc is cut in cap 52 into which an exhaust pipe 56 may be screw threadedly connected.

When valves 44 and 49 are both seated, as shown in,Fig. 1, the adjacent ends of their stems 45 and 50, respectively, are spaced a short distance apart, so the valve 44 may open slightly in advance of the valve 49, and the latter may also close in advance of the former. within the cap constituted a relatively high pressure chamber, whilethe chamber between the valves 44 and 49, within the sleeve 35, is constituted a relatively low pressure chamber; air passage between the two being through a plurality of apertures 57 in the top 43 of the bushing 41.

In the operation of the device the piston 12 is reciprocally actuated within the cylinder 11 through the medium of the drive shaft 20, worm gear 19, worm wheel 18, shaft 13 and connecting rod 14, in the usual manner of devices of this character'. In Fig. 1 the elements are shown in their normal inoperative positions with the piston 12 just starting downwardly on its suction stroke. .As it moves downwardly the intake valve 37 is opened (shown in Fig. ,3) while the exhaust valves 44 and 49 are held seated by the action of their springs 44:L and 51. At the beginning of the exhaust stroke (shown in Fig. 4) the intake valve 37 is closed by the incipient compression within the cylin- U der. and also by the action of its spring 34 and the exhaust valve 44 first raised by the air pressure within the cylinder which fills the chamber immediately above it withair at cylinder pressure. As soon as the presf sure within this chamber equalizes with that of the cylinder the valve 44 is further raised until the upper end of its stem '45 engages the lower' end of the stem 50, thereby raising the valve 49 against the action of its spring 51. As soon as the end of the exhaust stroke is reached and the piston starts down on its next intake stroke the pressure in the chamber immediately above the valve 44 will be immediately lessened and this valve closed by the action of its spring 44a as well as by the action of spring 51 which also `moves to close valve 49. Valve 49 will firstseat immediately cutting oli' any suction from the highv pressure chamber above it, after which the valve 44 will seat and the intake valve 37 again open.

By the foregoing described means a maxi Y mum high pressure .efficiency is maintained with a minimum of loss in the high pressure or exhaust line, due to the action of the compressor itself or any delayed valve action.

While I have herein shown and described the preferred specific embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that I reserve the right to make changes or modifications in structure and arrangement as are permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

l1. The combination with a cylinder and piston of an exhaust valve mechanism comprising two chambers; a passage connecting said chambers; a port connecting one of said chambers with the cylinder and a normally closed valve therefor; an exhaust port in the other chamber; a valve normally closing the passage intermediate said chambers;

ylelding means for normally holding said valves closed, arranged to cause the c linder port valve 'to be opened ahead o the necting said chambers; a port connecting the low pressure chamber with the cylinder; any

exhaust port in the high pressure chamberj a valve for the cylinder port held yieldingly closed and a valve for the connecting passage also held yieldingly closed; yielding means for normally holding said valves closed, arranged to cause the cylinder valve to be opened ahead of the passage valve on the exhaust stroke of the piston and to close the passage valve ahead of the cylinder port valve on its suction stroke..

3. The combinationwith a cylinder and piston of an exhaust. valve mechanism, comprising a high pressure chamber and a relativelylow pressure chamber, a passage connecting said chambers, a port connecting the low pressure chamber with the cylinder', an

exhaust port in the high pressure chamber,y

a valve for the'cylinder port having spring means for normally holding it closed against the cylinder pressure, a valve for the connecting passage having spring means for normally holding it closed against the cylinder pressure, the last mentioned spring means being stronger than the former, the cylinder port valve being adapted to open ahead of the passage valve on the exhaust stroke of the piston and the passage valve being adapted to close ahead of the piston port Valvedon its suction stroke.

4. The combination with a cylinder and piston of an exhaust valve mechanism, comprising a high pressure chamber and a relatively-low pressure chamber, a passage connecting said chambers, a port connecting the low pressure chamber and cylinder, an exhaust port in the high pressure chamber, a valve for the cylinder port seating against the cylinder pressure, springmeans for normally holding said valve seated, a valve for the connecting passage also seating against the cylinder pressure and spring means for normally holding it seated, each of said valves having coaxial stems normally spaced apart in opposed relation, the `cylinder port valve being adapted to lirst open on the exhaust stroke of the piston and its stem then engage the stem of the passage valve and efect its initial o enng, the passage 'valve closing first on t e suction stroke of the piston.

5. The 4combination with a cylinder and piston of an exhaust valve mechanism, comprising ahigh pressure chamber and a relatively low pressure chamber, a passage connecting said chambers, a port connecting the low pressure chamber with the cylinder, an exhaust port in the high pressure cham-- ber, a valve for the cylinder port anda valve for the passage, both held yieldingly closed against the cylinder pressure, the cylinder port valve being of smaller area than the -passage valve so the cylinder port valve will open before the passage Valve on the exhaust stroke .of the piston and the passage valve will close before the cylinder port valve on its suction stroke.

6. The combination with a cylinder and piston of an exhaust valve mechanism, comprising a high pressure chamber and a relatively loW pressure chamber, a passage connecting said chambers, a port connecting the low pressure chamber with the cylinder, an

v exhaust port in the high pressure chamber,

a valve for the cylinder port and a valve for the passage, spring nieans'lfor yieldingly holding both vsaid valves closed against t-lu` cylinder pressure, the cylinder' port valve being of smaller area than the passage valve and the spring means of the cylinder port valve being weaker than the passage valve spring means, with the resultant eli'ect of the cylinder port valve opening ahead ot the passage valve on the exhaust stroke of the piston and thepassage valve closing ahead of the piston port valve on its suction stroke.

7. The combination with a vcylinder and piston of an exhaust valve mechanism, comprising a high pressure chamber and a relatively low pressure chamber, a passage connecting said chambers, a port connecting thc low pressure chamber and cylinder, an cxhaust port in the high pressure chamber, a valvelfor the cylinder port and a valve for the passage, spring means for normally hohling said valves closed against the cylinder pressure, the spring means of the cylinder port valve beingweaker than the spring means of the passage valve with the rcsultant effect of the cylinder port valve opening ahead of the passage valve on the exhaust stroke of the piston and the passage valve closing ahead of the cylinder port valve on its suction stroke.

8. The combination with a cylinder and piston of an exhaust valve mechanism, comprising a high pressure chamber and a relatively low pressure chamber, a passagel connecting said chambers, a port connecting the low pressure chamber and cylinder, an exhaust port in the high pressure chamber, a valve for the cylinder port and a valve for the passage, both independently movable [itl Inf,

in directions towards and away from their seats, spring means to normally hold each of said valves seated against the cylinder pressure, the area of the cylinder port valve being smaller than the area of the passage valve and the spring means of the cylinder port valve being weaker than the spring means of the passage valve, with the resultant effect of the cylinder' port valve always opening ahead of the passage valve on the exhaust stroke of the piston and the passage valve always closing aheadrof the cylinder port valve on its suction stroke.

9. The combination with a cylinder and piston of a valve mechanism therefor, comprising a sleeve supported Within the top of the cylinder upon a peripheral flange which closes the top of the cylinder, said sleeve being spaced from the cylinder wall and closed at its upper end, an intake valve surrounding said sleeve closing the space between it and the cylinder wall adjacent its bottom, spring means for normally holding said valve closed against the suction of the piston, an intake port in the cylinder above said valve, a chamber above said sleeve, an

exhaust port in said chamber, passages connecting the interior of said sleeve and cham` ber, a valve closing the lower end of said sleeve against the cylinder pressure, spring means for normally holding said valve closed, a valve closing the passage into said chamber against -the cylinder pressure and spring means for normallyholding said valve closed, each of said valves having abutting stems normally spaced apart, the sleeve valve stem being adapted to engage the passage valve stem to raise it after said valve has been raised by the cylinder pressure on the exhaust stroke of the piston.

l0. The combination With a cylinder' and piston of a valve mechanism therefor, comprising an intake port infthe cylinder; an exhaust chamber an exhaust port in said chamber; a passage intermediate said exhaust chamber and the cylinder; a valve for the cylinder intake port; a valve yieldingly closing the cylinder end of the passage against cylinder pressure; a valve yieldingly closing the exhaust chamber end of the passage against cylinder pressure; said first mentioned passage valve being of smaller area than that of the last mentioned valve.

11. The combination with a cylinder and piston of a valve mechanism therefor, comprising an intake port in the cylinder; an exhaust chamber; an exhaust port in said chamber; a passage intermediate said exhaust chamber and the cylinder; a valve for the cylinder intake port; a valve normally closing the cylinder end of the passage against cylinder pressure; a valve normally closing the exhaust chamber end of the passage against cylinder pressure; spring means for yieldingl holding said valves closed; the area of the first mentioned passage valve being greatery than that of the last mentioned valve and its spring means stronger than that of the last mentioned valve.

12. The combination with a cylinder and piston of a valve mechanism therefor, comprising an intake port in the cylinder; an exhaust chamber; an exhaust port in said chamber; a passage intermediate said exhaust chamber and the cylinder; a valve for the cylinder intake port; a Valve normally closing the cylinder end of the passage against cylinder' pressure; a valve normally closing the exhaust chamber end of the passage against cylinder pressure; all of said valves being concentrically arranged upon a common axis.

13. lhe combination with a cylinder and piston of a valve mechanism therefor, comprising an intake port in the cylinder; an exhaust chamber; an exhaust port in said chamber; av passage intermediate said exhaust chamber and the cylinder; a normally closed valve for the cylinder intake port; a valve normally closing the cylinder end of the passage against cylindery pressure; a valve normally closing the exhaust chamber end of the passage against cylinder pressure; all of said valves being concentrically arranged upon a common axis; spring means for yieldingly holding each of said valves closed; the area of the first mentioned passage valve being greater than that of the last mentioned valve and its spring means stronger than that of the last mentioned valve.

14. The combination with a cylinder and piston of a valve mechanism therefor, comprising an annular intake chamber in the top of the cylinder; closed at its top and open at its bottom; an intake port in said chamber; an annular valve closing the open end of said chamber; an exhaust chamber; an exhaust port in said exhaust chamber; a passage intermediate said exhaust chamber and the cylinder concentric with the annular intake chamber; a valve normally closing the cylinder end of said passage against cylinder pressure; a valve normally closing the exhaust chamber end of said passage against cylinder pressure; yielding means for normally holding said valves closed; all of said valves being arranged to move along a common axis.

15. The combination with a cylinder and piston of a valve mechanism therefor, comprising an 'annular intake chamber in the top of the cylinder, closed at its top and open at its bottom; an intake port in said chamber; an annular valve closing the open end of said chamber; an exhaust chamber: an exhaust port in said exhaust chamber; a passage intermediate said exhaustchamber ilo and the cylinder concentric with the annular intake chamber; avalve normally closing" the cylinder end of said passage against cylinder pressure; a valve normally closing the exhaust chamber end of said passage against cylinder pressure; spring means for normally holdinv said valves closed; all of said Valves being arranged t0 move along a common axis the area of the first mentioned passage valve being greater than that of the last. mentioned Valve and its spring means being stronger than that of the last mentioned valve.

16. The combination with a cylinder and piston of a valve mechanism therefor, comprising a sleeve 'supported within the top of the cylinder, concentric therewith, forming an annilar intake chamber therearound and a concentric passage therethrough, said intake chamber being closed at its top and open at its bottom; an intake port opening into said chamber; an annular valve normally closing the open end of said intake chamber; yielding means to normally hold said annular valve closed; an exhaust chamber into which said passage opens; an exhaust port in said exhaust chamber; a valve for `normally closing the cylinder end of 'said passage against cylinder pressure; a

valve for normally closing ythe exhaust 30 chamber end of said passage against cylinder pressure; all of said valves being mounted to move along a common axis.

In witness that .I claim the foregoing I haye hereunto subscribed my name this 14th 35 day of October, 1924.

CLEMENS S. WORTH. 

